What is an EOB? Understanding the explanation of benefits statement from your medical insurance

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Such a pain! (And my foot hurts, too.)

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You went to the doctor for a sinus headache and they kindly sent the bill to your insurance company. Later, you received an EOB in the mail. What is this document and what does it mean to you?

An explanation of benefits (EOB) is a summary document intended to help you understand medical bills after receiving treatment. The EOB notifies you that a claim was filed with your health insurance carrier and explains how much was billed for the procedure(s) you received, as well as how much you and your carrier are each expected to contribute to the final cost.

EOBs can be confusing for many patients. They might show higher costs for care than you expected, and the numbers often don’t match the actual bill you received (or soon will receive) from your health care provider. But an explanation of benefits letter can help you better understand your health care plan and how much you can expect to contribute to any treatment or services you receive.

An EOB is not a medical bill from your care provider or insurance company, but it can provide you with much of the same information. An EOB’s structure varies from one insurance carrier to the next, but they tend to look about the same.

Details about you and your policy. Each EOB is addressed to either the patient or the policyholder (if they differ, such as a spouse or parent). It includes identifying information about you and your coverage, such as:

What you were charged and what you owe now. An EOB’s primary purpose is to make it easier to understand medical bills by breaking down:

It’s not uncommon for an EOB to show that you owe your doctor’s office a different amount than what you were told at your initial visit. This discrepancy could be because some medical services weren’t covered, or because you haven’t yet met your plan deductible for the year, so your costs are still considered out of pocket. Or you could be surprised to learn that your insurance plan actually covers more than your doctor’s office projected, so your provider’s charges end up being less than you expected. For example, if you’ve met your deductible and paid your co-pay, that charge for your sinus visit might result in a zero balance.

Why services were (or weren’t) covered. If one or more services weren’t covered by your plan, or if the carrier wants you to understand more about coverage details, you will usually see a remark code (often two to four alphanumeric characters) noted next to the service line. You can find additional details about this code and the related service charge at the bottom or on the back of your EOB.

Remark codes are commonly used to explain:

If you have questions about a remark code or why certain payments were or weren’t covered, contact your insurer’s claims department for more information.

Other information. Some carriers print additional information on your EOB that can be helpful for tracking medical claims and charges throughout the year. This may include how much of your annual deductible you’ve met and how much remains to be paid out of pocket before your carrier begins covering 100% of your charges. Or it may note how many remaining services you have in a particular category (usually in the case of recurring therapies, where you may have a limit each year).

Is an EOB the same as a bill? An explanation of benefits includes much of the same information as a medical bill, but the documents serve different purposes. An EOB comes from your insurance company and shows how much the provider charged to your plan, what your plan covers, any eligible discounts, and what you may still owe after any payments from your insurer. A bill, in contrast, comes directly from your medical provider’s billing department and details how much you owe the provider for services, either before or after your insurance benefits are applied.

What if I get an EOB but not a bill? In some cases, you may get an EOB from your insurance company but never receive a bill from your medical provider. This usually means your coverage and/or co-pay covered the entire charge and you don’t owe a remaining balance. But if you know you still owe for services and haven’t received a bill after a few weeks, it may be worth reaching out to your medical provider’s billing department to ensure they have your current address and health plan information.

What’s the difference between a claim and an EOB? A claim is a request for benefits (payment) that’s filed with your health care insurer, either by you or your medical provider. An EOB is a summary that is sent to you after that claim is received. It provides information about what was covered, how much was paid out to the provider, and what you still owe.

What happens if my claim was denied and I disagree? If you feel that your plan denied coverage erroneously, you are allowed to appeal the claim. Call your health insurance using the number on the back of your card or on the EOB. You may also want to call your doctor or health care provider. They might be able to help you file an appeal, since they would have access to your medical records supporting the claim.

Although it looks similar to a bill, an explanation of benefits comes directly from your insurance company and is not a request for payment. Instead, the EOB helps explain recent claims made through your policy, shows you how much was paid by your plan, and confirms how much you still owe to your provider for services.

An EOB can help answer many questions about coverage that your doctor’s office can’t provide. That’s because it’s directly tied to and processed by your health insurance plan. The EOB can also provide you with additional information about your policy, remaining limits, and year-to-date activity. This can help you stay on top of your policy, no matter what type of health insurance you have.